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A Few Good Green Living Tips

April 11, 2012 by

We teach our boys to be good stewards of the many blessings God has given them, this includes our home and our environment. We have been intrusted with this beautiful place we call home and it is our responsibility to make sure the earth is not just used and exploited but conserved or stewarded.

Here are a few good green living tips from our home to yours….

  • Watch consumption patterns for energy and water needs and curb unnecessary consumption. Turn off lights when they are not being used, turn off water while brushing teeth, only wash clothes when you have a full load. Use rain water to water gardens.
  • Reduce the amount of solid waste generated by reusing and recycling. We use a small compost pile for old food, and anything else that can go in it such as guinea pig and hamster waste and bedding. Don’t use disposable cups and products when possible. Buy a favorite water bottle or coffee mug and use it on the go.
  • Live off the land, grow your own gardens, plant trees, fruit and veggies! You can use the smallest area to create a vibrant, robust garden. A raised garden or garden pots work great too. Why garden? Taste, safety, cost and health. Not to mention that if each of us ate just one meal a week composed of locally and organically raised meats and/or produce, we could reduce oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week?
  • Donate it! Don’t throw out your old clothes, kitchen items or furniture… donate it to your local Salvation Army or church. They will usually pick up for FREE!

Remember, small changes make a big difference!

Haven’t you heard that orange is the new green? Seventh Generation and Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax have joined forces to inspire families to conserve the earth’s resources with conscious consumption. Created with your family, future generations and the environment in mind, Seventh Generation is the natural choice for high-quality and effective products that preserve the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people in your home–as well as the world outside. Make a difference by choosing Seventh Generation products, now offering free shipping for orders over $50. As the Lorax says, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

How do you live like the Lorax? Tell Seventh Generation below and be entered to win a Green Your Home prize pack!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Seventh Generation. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

Filed Under: Family, Gardening, Social Savvy · Tagged With: , ,

New Read and Play Community – You’re Invited!

April 10, 2012 by 1 Comment

There is a new community in town and it’s all about BOOKS, learning and fun! Please join us over at the all new Read and Play Community hosted by Random House! We’re here to help you connect with other moms and educators, share ways to keep your kids reading and have fun! Join us on Wednesday April 11th from 9-10pm EST as we celebrate our new community with a LIVE launch party! We’ll be chatting live with community leaders to answer questions, recommend books, share learning tips and more! We’ll be giving away over $100 worth of gift cards and great titles to get your children reading. As a community leader for Random House I will share and co-host several of our weekly Live Chats!

 

It’s easy to join the Read and Play Party

1. Become a community member

 2. Join us on the Live Chat 9-10pm EST on Wednesday April 11th

 

What’s ahead…

Our next live chat {after our launch party}  will be this Thursday night at 9pm Eastern, Newbery Award Winning authors, Rebecca Stead and Clare Vanderpool join us to chat about their favorite books, writing, and answer your questions! We will have a chat widget right here on this blog for you to join in!

If you missed it, my first post on Storybook Clay Animation is up in the community, you can read and share your thoughts here.

E.B. the bunny on his drums, three turtles on a log and Easter baskets

 

We hope you can join us and celebrate lifelong reading and learning!

Filed Under: Homeschool Savvy, Mom Savvy, The Homeschool Lounge ·

Easter Traditions, Treats & Sweets

March 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

While at the BlissDom conference, we had the wonderful opportunity to get to know some of the Hershey’s reps as well as create our very own Hershey’s Easter baskets. We choose our basket color, filler and our favorite Hershey’s candies! I made sure to include a bag of each one of the boys favorites {and mine}… Twizzlers, Kit Kats, Jolly Ranchers, Hershey’s Kisses and of course Cadbury Eggs.  Needless to say, we were beyond excited when our Easter basket arrived at the house early one morning.

 

Ashton and Noah crack me up!!

Since Easter is just around the corner, I thought I should share a few of our Easter traditions and a recipe. We don’t do the Easter bunny with our boys but they do wake up to a Easter baskets full of goodies {a tradition started by my sister}. We usually include a book, small toys such as puzzles, marbles, cars, games and of course chocolate.

One of our favorite traditions has to be our Resurrection Easter Eggs.  Resurrection eggs are a fun way to tell our children the story of the resurrection of Jesus, using 12 colorful eggs filled with symbolic objects and passages from the Bible.

Resurrection Cookies

Another favorite tradition is making Resurrection Cookies. These miraculous Resurrection cookies are made the night before Easter, children wake up to a neat surprise when they go to find the hollow cookies in the morning!

You will need:

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1 cup sugar
a zipper baggy
1 wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
  2. Place pecans in a resealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin or heavy pot, crush the pecans into small bits. Read John 19:1-3
  3. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into a medium bowl. Let children smell vinegar . Read John 19:28-30
  4. Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life
    to give us life. Read John 10:10-11
  5. Sprinkle salt into the egg whites. Read Luke 23:27
  6. So far, the mixture isn’t very appetizing. Add sugar. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
  7. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto parchment paper lined baking sheet. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
  8. Place cookies in the oven close the door and turn the oven off. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
  9. Go to bed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
  10. In the morning open the oven and take out the cookies. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

 Oh, I met this guy while making our basket at BlissDom too…

Be sure to visit www.CelebratewithHersheys.com to follow the blogging bunny trail and check out the great collection of Easter tips, memories and stories!

What are some of your favorite Easter Traditions?

Filed Under: Family, Parenting, Photo Savvy, Recipe Savvy · Tagged With: , , , ,

Curious George Twitter Dance Party #CuriousGeorgeMoms

March 20, 2012 by 1 Comment

Calling all Curious George fans!! Exercise your creativity! Do your children love to dance? I have four little monkeys of my own who never seem to stop dancing, they choreograph their own routines and perform them for us. Dance is a wonderful form of expression and exercise for adults and children alike!

George is celebrating the arts with his first ever Curious George Dance Contest! Video tape your children sharing their best moves to the theme song of Curious George for a chance to be featured on a Curious George DVD. They might even win a visit from George himself!  You can read details and learn more about this fun contest here!

To kick off this first ever Curious George Dance Contest, Latina Bloggers Connect, WGBH and PBS Kids are throwing a Twitter Dance Party!

CG (R) & (C) 2012 Universal Studios and/or HMH. All Rights Reserved. FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY.

Twitter Party Details

Theme: Curious George Twitter Dance Party
Date: Wednesday, March 21st
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST / 10:00am – 12:30pm PST
Where: On Twitter with the Hashtag #CuriousGeorgeMoms

Hosts: @OhMariana @Sarann @SocialSavvyMom @MamaLatina @SassyScorpYM Moderated by @LBConnect Special Guest @dorotheagillim (Media Producer for WGBH Kids)

Prizes: Three winners! Two $50 Michael’s Gift Cards and One Kindle Fire

RSVP twtvite.com/curiousgeorgedance and https://www.facebook.com/events/296412587098658/

Tweetchat - http://bit.ly/pFn6Jr
TweetGrid – http://bit.ly/wlaHX7

 

This post is sponsored in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and WGBH. All opinions expressed in this article are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

Filed Under: Fit Savvy, Motherhood, Photo Savvy, Social Savvy ·

Bed Time and Teeth Brushing Tactics

March 19, 2012 by

After having four boys and often struggling with bed time and teeth brushing, I found that consistency makes all the difference. Giving our boys a consistent bed time routine and wind down time prepares them for bed without the struggles. Bed time is predictable and they know exactly what to expect.

We try to make teeth brushing as fun as possible since this is usually where the resistance takes place. Here are a few of our teeth brushing tactics…

  • We use a timer in the bathroom for the older boys, anyone can do anything for two itty bitty minutes! We have invested in the fun tooth brushes that play songs for two minutes for the little boys. Having a fun song to get them through brushing always helps. We have a cute and funny song we call “Brusha Brusha Brusha” I would sing this daily when they were little. {I still bust it out when needed}
  • We let the boys pick out their toothpaste, character flossers and mouthwash. If they are using what they like, they are more likely to want to brush.
  • My four year old loves his Buzz Lightyear Flossers and yet flossing can still be a challenge. It’s mundane, boring and my little guy does not like to sit still for long. Make flossing fun and turn it into a game. Go hunting for the colored plague monsters and take them out one by one! Play the guessing game to guess what the little one ate that day while your flossing their teeth…”I see you ate green broccoli on this tooth” you can make this fun and make up foods.
  • Lastly, we make sure brushing is part of our nightly routine. We have wind down time where we dim the lights and watch The Berenstain Bears together on Sprout. The Pajanimals have the cutest bed time clips to get the littles (and not so littles) prepared for whats to come. After Sprout, we brush, get into PJ’s, read our read aloud, say prayers and tuck in boys. I have to sing the Pajanimals song – “La-La-Lullaby” with my Noah each night too. So sweet!

How do you handle bed time in your home?

FOUR of you will win a prize package – including a Pajanimals DVD and The Sleepeasy Solution book

The Pajanimals, available only on 24-hour preschool television channel Sprout, features four fuzzy friends who wind down for bedtime in a cozy and reassuring way. The show helps you tackle common bedtime issues like getting out of bed, bad dreams and scary monsters. Check out Sprout’s bedtime tips! Also, by replying below four of my lucky readers will win a prize package – including a Pajanimals DVD and The Sleepeasy Solution book, proven by Hollywood’s celebrity parents and written by the sleep experts at Sleepy Planet.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sprout. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

Filed Under: Mom Savvy, Motherhood, Parenting ·

Seventh Generation Tackled Our Laundry

March 13, 2012 by

A random fact about me that I don’t think anyone other than my husband and maybe my sister know… I have been using Tide as my one and only laundry detergent for over 15 years! I have tried other detergents in the past and I always returned to old faithful Tide…..until I tried Seventh Generation’s Free & Clear Liquid Laundry 2 X Concentrate. The fact that this product is “Green” {a healthy solution for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within our homes–and the community and environment outside of it} is a plus but with four boys, getting out dirt, stains and smell was most important! I was pleasantly surprised to see {and smell} that Free & Clear Liquid Laundry 2 X Concentrate did the job!

I usually use Oxy stain remover and Bleach to whiten our clothes, Seventh Generation sent me alternatives for these too. I tried out Seventh Generation’s Natural Laundry Stain Remover on some old stains that I could not get out previously and Natural Oxy Stain Remover in the place of our bleach. Who knew healthier products would do the same job or better than what I considered to be the best?

Seventh Generations Natural Laundry Stain Remover is a nontoxic and biodegradable formula that combines an advanced triple enzyme system with a powerful plant-derived cleaning agent to remove the toughest stains.

The Natural Oxy Stain Remover is powerful Chlorine-free oxygen bleach fights stains in the laundry room and beyond by boosting detergent effectiveness and using the power of oxygen bleach to brighten and whiten.

I have often heard that fabric dryer sheets are not safe, I have to admit that this is not something I have looked in to. Fortunately, Seventh Generation also sent liquid fabric softener, which I am embarrassed to say I have never tried. Our clothes came out soft, static free and smelling fresh.

With a house full of people that have allergies and eczema, I’m not sure why I didn’t choose to go with a Free and Clear laundry alternative before. I’m thankful that Seventh Generation gave me this opportunity to find something safe and effective in cleaning our clothes. I’m a new fan!

Seventh Generation and Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax have joined forces to inspire families to conserve the earth’s resources with conscious consumption. If every U.S. household replaced just one bottle of 50 oz. 4X concentrate petroleum-based laundry liquid with Seventh Generation’s 50 oz. 4X concentrate plant-derived product, we could save enough oil to heat and cool 15,700 U.S. homes for a year. Make a difference by choosing high-quality and effective products from Seventh Generation, now offering free shipping for any purchase over $50! As the Lorax says,“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

How do you live like the Lorax? Tell Seventh Generation below and be entered to win a Green Your Home prize pack!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Seventh Generation. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

 

If you can not see this post post in your reader, please click on the link to go to this original post online. You wont want to miss the chance to win your very own Green Your Home prize pack!

Filed Under: Family, Photo Savvy, Uncategorized ·

Giving Back as a Family

March 8, 2012 by 4 Comments



YES! I love Members Unite, our family is really excited to join this wonderful community. {Really Excited} We are always trying to find ways to give back as a family. We strive to teach our boys to give and have servants hearts. The boys were so excited after my trip to Guatemala with Save the Children, they still love looking at the pictures of the mothers and children we visited throughout the remote villages in Guatemala. A family mission trip is on our bucket list and we hope to check it off sooner than later.

In the mean time, Members Unite has filled a need and a longing we have had to give back globally.

Members Unite is a simple, interactive, fun way to fund amazing projects. They find the most interesting, impactful, meaningful projects and then let their members decide which projects get funded. This is possible because the projects are funded through member contributions. And the members ultimately control the outcome each month. We’re all in this together. One person giving $20 is a drop in the ocean. One thousand people giving $20 brings clean water to a village for a lifetime. Members Unite helps us all do more than we could do on our own. For as little as $5 a month, we are able to take an active role in deciding which projects get funding, and how much funding they get.  And 100% of our monthly contribution will go toward the winning projects.

 

We let the boys read over the many projects currently listed on Members Unite. Talk about a great learning experience for them… they learn of the needs of people all over the world and the amazing projects being put together to meet those needs. The boys have agreed to put their money together {$1.25 each) to pay for the monthly gift and vote on their favorite project each month.

This month we are voting for a project for infants in Guatemala (no surprise there) If this project wins,  Members Unite will provide 20 infants with milk for 500 days – over a year’s worth of sustenance.

I encourage you to check out this fun community of folks giving back for as little as $5 a month; the best part is seeing where your gift goes each month and how the recipient is being blessed by the gift they receive. Priceless!! There is an annual fee of $25 and then the monthly fee of $5 a month.

If you decide to join us on Members Unite, please let me know in the comments below! I’m going to do a contest and giveaway a $25 gift card to to one of my readers that joins Members Unite!

{The giveaway is not hosted by Members Unite or Clever Girls Collective. Solely hosted by Social Savvy Mom}

 

 
Members Unite Launch Video from Members Unite on Vimeo.

 

 

Filed Under: Causes, Family, Parenting, Uncategorized ·

Baby Wearing Around the World

March 1, 2012 by 3 Comments

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If you can not view this post, you can go to the Million Moms Challenge site to view in its entirety here. {Not affiliated with One Million Moms}

Filed Under: Causes, Mom Savvy, Motherhood, Uncategorized ·

Children are our future and their future starts with the first 1000 days.

February 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

If you can not see the post below, please visit the original and read more about the importance of babies first 1000 days here.

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Filed Under: Causes, Motherhood, Uncategorized ·

Health Resources From Centrum’s #NutritionPossible

February 13, 2012 by 9 Comments

Walking down the Vitamin isle at an grocery store can seem a bit overwhelming, there are so many different brands, vitamins and supplements to choose from. How does one know which vitamins are most beneficial? Do you know what is lacking from your diet that you might need to supplement?

The makers of Centrum® know that navigating the supplement aisle can be confusing and choosing the right foods to make sure you’re getting everything in your diet can be challenging. NutritionPossible.comcwas created to make nutrition information easy to access and understand. Everyone is different and our lives and needs are constantly evolving, so NutritionPossible.com provides tools and information to help you sort through the abundance of information and figure out what’s right for you. It’s a simple tool in a confusing landscape and focuses on three key areas -

Supplements -The key to nutrition is making sure you are getting the right nutrients. NutritionPossible.com has the information you need to make more informed choices about how to enhance your diet with supplements.

Food & Diet – Sorting through all the different information about what to eat and how much can be overwhelming. The goal is to help you identify the right nutrient–packed foods to include in your diet.

Exercise & Lifestyle – Taking the right supplements and eating right, while a great start, is never enough. That’s why the site provides a mix of practical and creative suggestions for things everyone can do to improve their health and well-being.

All of this can be done with a simple assessment test on NutritionPossible.com.

 

 I took the assessment test and I have to admit, it was right on. I need to work on my sleeping habits, try to get in a 20 minute power nap and work on eating more veggies and fish.

Once you have completed your own assessment on NutritionPossible.com, you download a $10 coupon for Centrum® products.

GIVEAWAY:

I am giving away a $25 AMEX gift card courtesy of NutritionPossible.com

Entering the giveaway is EASY ~ To enter the giveaway by taking the assessment on NutritionPossible.com, and share something you didn’t know you were lacking in the comments below. Click here to view full Giveaway details!

Deadline: This is a one day contest and will end tonight Feb 13th at 11:00pm Central

Winner will be chosen via Random.org and posted tonight at 11:15 pm!

Disclosure: I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by One2One Network. I received incentives and am eligible for prizing. While all opinions stated are my own, I make no claims about NutritionPossible.com as a product or its effectiveness. 

The winner of the $25 Amex Gift Card is Candy!! Congratulations!!

Filed Under: Fit Savvy, Giveaway, Review ·
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